Speech displayer



Dec. 27, 1966 s. DREXLER SPEECH DISPLAYER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed. Feb. 7, 1963 INVENTOR. RAYMoN S. DREXLER 2? WWW: 1 w

R. S. DREXLER SPEECH DISPLAYER Dec. 27, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 7. 1963 Fig. 4.

INVENTOR. RAYMON SDREXLER BY W ,5" mi/ Al/aws Fig. 2.

Dec. 27, 1966 R. s. DREXLER 3,293,782

SPEECH DISPLAYER Filed Feb. 7, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig.3. 78

INVENTOR. RAYMoN S. DREXLER wMMfW/M AHomm s 3,293,782 SPEECH DISPLAYER Raymon S. Drexler, 498 NE. 108th St., Miami, Fla. 33161 Filed Feb. 7, 1963, Ser. No. 256,870 4 Claims. (CI. 40-31) This invention relates generally to prompting devices and more particularly to a speech displayer of a type which can be held in the palm of the hand of a speaker, during the presentation of his speech.

Heretofore, many types of prompting devices and apparatus have been devised. Generally, these devices have been large units which not only have been expensive but have been of a size and weight requiring that they rest upon a table or other surface during use. They have not been suitable for use in the hand of the speaker nor have they even been suitable for mounting upon a lectern.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an improved type of prompting apparatus.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device for displaying speeches and which can be conveniently held in the hand of the speaker during presentation of a speech.

A further object is to provide a device achieving the foregoing objects and further characterized by case of loading and unloading and adaptability to the useof current from an electrical outlet or from a battery source.

Described briefly, a typical embodiment of the present invention provides a case having a removable pair of rollers for supplying and receiving the paper upon which the speech is printed or written. A reversible motor and coupling means are employed to drive the reels. Means are provided facilitating the operation of the motor in either direction.

The full nature of this invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a typical embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross section taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is a section through the typical embodiment taken along a plane located as designated by the line-33 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged axial view of one of the worm gears employed in the typical embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 55 in FIG. 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the case 11 has a left hand wall 12, right hand wall 13, and end walls 14 and 16. The floor 17 of the case is integral with the walls 12, 14 and 16, while the right hand wall, or a principal portion thereof, is removable from the case. It is normally secured in place by the wing nut 18 secured to the screw 19 which is mounted to the boss 21 secured to the floor 17 of the case. A light transmitting cover 22, which is normally transparent, is pivotally mounted to the case to allow access to the interior thereof for replacement of the bulbs 23 and 24 mounted in the sockets 26 and 27 secured to the fioor of the case.

A reversible motor 28 is mounted to the floor of the case and has a drive pinion 29 mounted to its output shaft 31. This drive pinion drives a gear 32, which is mounted to the Worm shafts 33 and 34, through a pair of one-way clutches. It should be understood that the worm shafts 33 and 34 are separate shafts and the one-way clutches permit their being driven in only one direction by the motor 28. That is, operation of the motor in one direction is effective to drive one of the worm shafts whereas United States Patent 0 ice operation of the motor in the other direction is effective to drive the other worm shaft. Each end of each worm shaft may be mounted in a bearing block,.such as shown at 36.

The paper 37, upon which the speech is printed, is carried between the two spools or rollers 38 and 39. Each roller includes a hollow tube 41 having a flange 42 at each end thereof. A circular indentation 43 is provided in the tube to provide a seat for the spring 44 which, as will become apparent, prevents a roller from coasting freely on its bearings. A spool lock member 46 is secured in the tube near the opposite end from the spring 44 and has keying means thereon which, in a simple form, is merely an elongate lug 47 extending diametrically across the member 46 and projecting therefrom.

Support for one end of the roller adjacent the wall 12 is provided by means of the shaft 48 having a head 49 thereon provided with a slot 51 for engagement by the lug 47 of the spool. The shaft 48 is securely supported by the ball bearing 52 and accordingly, the head 49, which is in fitting relation to the interior of the tube 41, supports the tube. The edges of the head may be rounded, as shown at 53, to guidingly receive the tube on the head during installation of the roller.

A gear 54, having teeth 56 thereon suitable for driving by the worm tooth 57 on worm shaft 33, is mounted on the shaft 48.. It is, however, free to rotate on the shaft. To provide a drive for the shaft 48 from the gear 54, a oneway clutch is employed. The gear has a cylindrical recess therein, the cylindrical wall 59 of which affords an engaging surface for the clutch balls 61. These balls, upon rolling outwardly on the ramps 62 of the cam 63, which is secured to the shaft 48, are effective to drive the cam as the gear rotates. They are, therefore, effective through the cam to drive the shaft 48. It is in this way that a spool can be driven, when the worm shaft provided for the driving thereof is rotating in the appropriate direction.

At the end of each spool opposite the driving end, the support therefor is provided by a nylon sleeve bearing 64 which is in turn supported on the shaft 66, extending from the end of the screw 67. The screw is threadedly received in the boss 68 on the wall 13 of the case and has a knurled knob 69 at its outer end. A locking nut 71 is provided to lock the screw in position.

An abrasive disc 72 is secured to the inner end of the shaft 66, and another abrasive disc 73 is mounted in the tube 41 to provide a seat for the outer end of the spring 44. The ease of rotation of the spool on its bearings is determined by the amount of compressive force exerted by the spring 44. This is, of course, determined by the position of the screw 67 in the boss 68. By means of the knob 69, any desired degree of tension can be obtained.

, At this point it may be mentioned that the type of oneway clutch driving each of the worm shafts 33 and 34 is identical to that shown in FIG. 5 and described above. The gear 32 is, of course, driven by the pinion 29 and rotates freely on each of the worm shafts. A cam for cooperation with the balls is secured to each of the worm shafts. When the gear is driven in one direction, the balls roll out on the ramps of the cam connected to one of the worm shafts and drive this cam and shaft. The balls for the other cam roll inwardly on its ramps and the cam is not driven. When the gear is driven in the opposite direction, the same type of action takes place but in reverse so that the second wonn shaft is driven but the first worm shaft is not driven.

A platen 74 is secured to the right hand wall 13, being supported thereon by the ribs 76. A roller 77 is mounted to each end of the platen and, being mounted to rotate freely, permits the paper 37 to roll easily to and from the platen. It can be appreciated, therefore, that by providing this construction and providing proper fits of bearing 64, shaft 66, and the tubes 41, the right hand wall 13 of the case can be removed, the spools replaced with new spools, and the wall replaced very conveniently. The provision of proper bearings at the ends of the spools supported by the wall 13 will assure "that the spools remain square with the wall even though the paper 37 extends between the spools and over the platen. This factor, together with the rounded heads of the driveshafts 48 facilitates engagement of the spools with the drive shafts and engagement of the locking'lug 47 with the slot 51.

An electrical input for alternating current is shown in FIG. 3 with the input lines designated by reference numerals 78 and 79. These lines are coupled to a transformer 81 to provide an alternating current output of reduced voltage at the terminals 82. A suitable rectifier which may be in the form of a diode bridge 83, for example, is connected to the output of the transformer and provides a direct current at a potential of approximately 6 volts across the lines 84 and 86. The two lamps 24 and 23 are connected in parallel with the lines 84 and 86. w

A forward operation button 87 and reverse operation button 88 are provided in the case. Both buttons are spring loaded. Two bridging contactors 89 and 91 are provided on the button 87 and two bridging contactors 92 and 93 are provided on the button 88. Contact points 94 and 96 are connected in common to one'terminal 97 of the motor 28. Contact points 98 and 99 are connected in common to the other temiinal 101 of the motor 28. Conductor 84 is connected in common to contact points 102 and 103. Conductor 86 is connected in common to contact points 104 and 106. With direct current potential on the conductors 84 and 86, the bridging of contacts by button 87 will cause forward operation of the motor and therefore of the paper, whereas release thereof will break contact and cause cessation of operation of the motor. Similarly, the bridging of contacts by pressing the button 88 will reverse the operation of the motor and cause the paper to reverse in direction.

In order to provide for operation of the device by a battery, a standard plug 109 may be employed and this is to be mounted in the case. Thus, a cord from a battery pack can be connected to the unit and provide the energy necessary for operation.

As will be apparent from FIG. 1,'the paper employed has an inclined red stripe 112 thereon which begins at one side of the sheet where the speech begins and ends at the opposite side of the sheet. Thus, as the paper rolls from one reel to the other, the stripe moves across the viewing window113, giving the speaker a good indication of how far he has yet to go in his speech. By provision of numbers such as those designated by reference numeral 114 along one margin of the window, and provision of letters 115 on the other margin of the window, reference to particular points in the speech is facilitated. The speaker can, therefore, by the use of a reference card 116, secured under the spring clips 117, make notes of particular places in the speech to which he wishes to refer.

It can be readily appreciated that by virtue of the compact construction and design of the present invention, a very handy unit of considerable value to speakers is provided. The construction is of a type which is durable and reliable and the use of the device is easily mastered.

While the invention has been disclosed and described in some detail in the drawings and foregoing description, they are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character as other modifications may readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art and within the broad scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims. 1

The invention claimed is: 1. A speech displayer comprising:

a case; first and second roller means inside said case; reversible driving means; means coupling said first and second roller means to said driving means and including a one-way clutch coupled between each of said roller means and said driving means, whereby only one of said roller means is driven by said driving means at any one time; and tensioning means including a coil spring in each roller with one end of the spring supported by a circular indentation in said roller, and said tensioning' means including first and second abrasive discs inside each roller, and said tensioning means including a shaft afiixed to and extending from the end of a screw threadedly received in the case, with the said first disc secured to the inner end of the said shaft, and a knurled knob on the end of said screw outside said case whereby said screw is adjustable inwardly to force said first disc into said second disc and thereby force said second disc against said spring to adjustably increase resistance of said rollers to rotation in said case. A speech displayer comprising:

a case having an integral portion including a floor and and two end walls and a first side wall integral therewith, and a second side wall removable from said integral portion;

first paper roller means in said case and mounted to said removable wall and removable with said removable wall;

a drive gear mounted to said integral portion in said case, said drive gear having a first one-way clutch therein;

a first worm drive shaft having a drive worm thereon and coupled to said first one-way clutch;

a worm gear having a second one-way clutch therein coupling said first roller means to said first drive shaft, said worm gear meshing with said drive worm;

a reversible drive motor mounted to said integral portion and driving said drive gear and thereby driving said first roller means through said first and second one-way clutches;

input means mounted to said integral portion for a source of electrical energy;

switching means coupling said input means to said motor for selectively energizing said motor and including movable contactors mounted to said second wall and removable therewith from said case;

a translucent cover movably mounted on said integral portion of said case;

and a platen in said case under said cover, said platen being secured to said removable wall and removable therewith from said case.

3. A speech displayer as set forth in claim 2 and further comprising:

second roller means mounted to said second wall and disposed in said case and removable with said second wall;

a third one-way clutch in said drive gear;

a second worm drive shaft having a drive worm thereon and coupled to said third one-way clutch;

a second worm gear having a fourth one-way clutch therein coupling said second roller means to said second drive shaft, said second worm gear meshing with the drive worm on said second drive shaft, said first and second drive shafts having colinear axes and said first one-way clutch being oriented to enable said drive gear to drive said first worm drive shaft when said motor is operated in a forward direction and said third one-way clutch being oriented to enable-said drive gear to drive said second shaft when said motor is operated in a reverse direction, said second roller means being thereby driven by 5 6 said drive gear through said third and fourth one- 2,182,084 12/1939 Keilwagen 40-95 way clutches when said motor is operated in the 2,405,446 8/1946 Perrault 242-75.4 reverse direction. 2,483,570 10/ 1949 Bergey 4031 XR 4. A speech displayer as set forth in claim 2 and 2,803,472 8/1957 Finger 281-8 further comprising illuminating means located in said 5 2,837,294 6/ 1958 Jacobs 40-93 X case and coupled to said electrical energy input means. 2,846,159 8/ 1958 Reynolds 40-31 X 2,859,656 11/1958 Lemieux 40-31 X References Cited y the Examiner 2,981,496 4/1961 Harmon et a1 40-31 X UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,073,542 1/ 1963 Kaashoek 4031 X 220,465 10/ 1879 Chase et a1 a- 242-156 10 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,053,612 2/1913 Keyes 242156 622,434 5/1949 Great Britain. 1,496,515 6/1924 Beckett 40--95 1i; g g

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

u 2,045,952 6/1936 Kothman 40 9s XR 15 JEROME SCHNALL Examme 2,121,797 6/ 1938 Holland 4031 J. W. WILL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SPEECH DISPLAYER COMPRISING: A CASE; FIRST AND SECOND ROLLER MEANS INSIDE SAID CASE; REVERSIBLE DRIVING MEANS; MEANS COUPLING SAID FIRST AND SECOND ROLLER MEANS TO SAID DRIVING MEANS AND INCLUDING A ONE-WAY CLUTCH COUPLED BETWEEN EACH OF SAID ROLLER MEANS AND SAID DRIVING MEANS, WHEREBY ONLY ONE OF SAID ROLLER MEANS IS DRIVEN BY SAID DRIVING MEANS AT ANY ONE TIME; AND TENSIONING MEANS INCLUDING A COIL SPRING IN EACH ROLLER WITH ONE END OF THE SPRING SUPPORTED BY A CIRCULAR INDENTATION IN SAID ROLLER, AND SAID TENSION ING MEANS INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND ABRASIVE DISCS INSIDE EACH ROLLER, AND SAID TENSIONING MEANS INCLUDING A SHAFT AFFIXED TO AND EXTENDING FROM THE END OF A SCREW THREADEDLY RECEIVED IN THE CASE, WITH THE SAID FIRST DISC SECURED TO THE INNER END OF THE SAID SHAFT, AND A KNURLED KNOB ON THE END OF SAID SCREW OUTSIDE SAID CASE WHEREBY SAID SCREW IS ADJUSTABLE INWARDLY TO FORCE SAID FIRST DISC INTO SAID SECOND DISC AND THEREBY FORCE SAID SECOND DISC AGAINST SAID SPRING TO ADJUSTABLY INCREASE RESISTANCE OF SAID ROLLERS TO ROTATION IN SAID CASE. 